GROUP VAUDOISE ASSURANCES JOINS THE BBFAW GLOBAL INVESTOR COLLABORATION ON FARM ANIMAL WELFARE

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GROUP VAUDOISE ASSURANCES JOINS THE BBFAW GLOBAL INVESTOR COLLABORATION ON FARM ANIMAL WELFARE

Vaudoise Assurances Holding SA, a private insurance company and an important player on the Swiss insurance market, has joined the BBFAW Global Investor Collaboration on Farm Animal Welfare. As a member of the Investor Collaboration, Vaudoise Assurances will participate in an annual engagement to improve animal welfare management practices amongst BBFAW’s 150 global companies.

The Investor Collaboration is now supported by 32 institutional investors¹ representing £1.9 trillion in assets under management.

Reto Kuhn, CIO, commented:

“Animal welfare is a pertinent issue for Vaudoise Assurances as an insurance company driven by responsible corporate practices, including insurance coverage and services for farm animals and pets. From an investor's perspective, we are pleased to complete our sustainable investment strategy by to joining the BBFAW Global Investor Collaboration initiative and support respectful farming practices in the food industry."

Dr Rory Sullivan, Expert Advisor to BBFAW commented:

“We are delighted that Vaudoise Assurances has joined the Global Investor Collaboration. Swiss companies have historically performed well in the annual BBFAW assessments, and we hope that Vaudoise’s involvement in the collective engagement programme will provide another incentive for Swiss companies to continue to strengthen their management and performance on farm animal welfare.”

¹ The participants are: Aberdeen Standard Investments, ACTIAM, AMP Capital Ethical Leaders Fund, Australian Ethical Investments, Aviva Investors, Bâtirente, BMO Global Asset Management, BNP Paribas Investment Partners, Boston Trust Walden, Brunel Pension Partnership, Candriam, Castlefield Investment Partners LLP, CCLA, the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church, Coller Capital, EdenTree Investment Management, Epworth Investment Management, Ethical Partners Funds Management, Vaudoise Assurances Holding SA, Hexavest, Karner Blue Capital, KBI Global Investors, NEI Investments, OpenInvest, Rathbone Greenbank Investments, Robeco, Le Regroupement pour la responsabilité sociale des entreprises, Simplicity AB, Sonen Capital, The Sustainability Group of Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge Trust, Trillium Asset Management and Triodos Investment Management.

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For further information please contact:

Amanda Williams, Director of Communications, Chronos Sustainability (BBFAW Secretariat)

T: 020 8050 5103

amanda@chronossustainability.com

More information on the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare programme can be found at www.bbfaw.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) is the globally recognised investor framework for assessing the quality of companies’ practices, processes and performance on farm animal welfare.
2. The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare, founded in 2012, is supported by its founding partner, Compassion in World Farming and supporting partner, FOUR PAWS.
3. BBFAW provides an annual, independent assessment of farm animal welfare management and performance in global food companies. It enables investors, companies, NGOs and other stakeholders to understand corporate practice and performance on farm animal welfare. More information on the programme can be found at com
4. Through the annual benchmark, extensive engagement programmes with investors and with companies, and the production of guidance and other materials for companies and investors, BBFAW has driven higher farm animal welfare standards across the world’s leading food businesses
5. BBFAW maintains the Global Investor Statement on Farm Animal Welfareand convenes the Global Investor Collaboration on Farm Animal Welfare, a collaborative engagement between major institutional investors and food companies on the issue of farm animal welfare. In addition, BBFAW manages extensive engagement programmes with companies and with investors and provides practical guidance and tools for companies and for investors on key animal welfare issues.

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